NASCAR Racing: Talladega

Welcome NASCAR race fans to my NASCAR blog. The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series returns to Talladega Superspeedway this weekend for the Good Sam Club 500 race on Sunday afternoon. There are only five more races, including this one left in the season. In the race earlier this year, there was a photo finish, with 48 Jimmie Johnson winning and his pusher, 88 Dale Earnhardt, Jr. finishing fourth. 33 Clint Bowyer was second by inches and 24 Jeff Gordon a few inches behind Clint. The race ended with four drivers and their pushers going for the win.

In previous races here, there were always a big pack racing each other. It was three wide, ten or so deep. That made for “the big one” more often than not. The drivers learned that if they hook up with another driver and take turns pushing or leading, that they get around the track much faster. Some fans prefer the big packs better and don’t like the two by two racing, even though the cautions are now for only a couple of cars at a time, instead of half the field at a time. NASCAR is changing the restrictor- plate and making it harder on the engine to be pushing.

Last year there was a final lap caution and it took quite awhile to figure out who won, Clint Bowyer or Kevin Harvick. Some fans prefer the crashing. I prefer the racing with few cautions. Two by two racing brings fewer cautions and only one or two cars crashing at a time. But we’ll see what happens. Practice is on Friday.

Also at Talladega this weekend, is the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for their Coca Cola 250 powered by Fred’s race on Saturday.

Talladega Superspeedway is a 2.66 mile track with high banking and very smooth, so the drivers are able to race around the track without having to lift off the gas. The Cup drivers have perfected the “2-car tango”. However, in the two lesser Series’, the drivers haven’t gotten this style perfected. There is more crashing as a result. So the racing may be a big pack on Saturday and two by two on Sunday. Need NASCAR tickets? Try Vivid Seats. They have tickets for most sporting events.